Retirement Blog

Stop! Don’t sell your pension

If you're considering taking a loan that offers to convert tomorrow's pension into cash today, run the other direction.

The federal Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued warnings against a growing number of "factoring" companies that buy and sell pension rights and settlements. It said in a recent bulletin that government employees and members of the military living in retirement are among those being approached most often with offers of loans and outright sales of pension rights for sums that are significantly less than the accumulated periodic payments would otherwise be worth.

The New York Times calculated that the interest rates on these pension loans range from 27 percent to 106 percent.

If you're offered one of these deals and you're tempted to take it, here are three things to consider:

What is the total cost? Find out what the discount rate is. That's the amount that the factoring company is using to arrive at the value of your future pension. The higher the discount rate, the less they are valuing your pension in today's dollars. That shrinks the lump sum you'll be offered. You should also ask about commissions, fees and other administrative costs. When you add all this together, does it still look like a deal worth taking?

Will you be required to buy life insurance? Many factoring companies require the holders of the pensions they acquire to buy life insurance and make the company the sole beneficiary. Buying insurance will reduce your take still further.

What are the tax consequences? If they give you a lump sum, you'll have to pay income taxes on it and that will eat up a significant portion of anything you get.

If you're tempted to take one of these lousy deals, first get a second opinion from a knowledgeable and trustworthy resource.

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2 Comments

WG

March 05, 2014 at 8:22 pm

Called just to see what the deal is.
The lady on the other line sounded like she was on meth.
She gave me a "quote" for 8000 dollars over 5 years at 810 dollars a month - Are you kidding me.
Thats 60 months x 810 dollars = 48,600 dollars on a 8000 dollar advance. That should be 100% illegal.

Alice

September 27, 2013 at 4:18 pm

I've already applied for loans have been turned down , have poor credit need to pay off debts, bills very late. Will be having major surgery soon.

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